Retroid Pocket Duo Is Coming — A True AYN Thor Competitor at Last?
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The Image Retroid posted to there Instagram on 9/7/2026. Image credit Retroid (goretroid.com)
Retroid just teased the Pocket Duo (at least we hope it’s called that for release), a true dual-screen handheld, and my reaction is simple: here we go. The AYN Thor is finally getting some real competition.
Retroid hasn't given us much yet — just the name, the dual-screen concept, and nothing on specs, pricing, or a release date. Still, this is one handheld I'll be watching closely.
I'm Not Even a Huge Dual-Screen Fan
I recently sold my Nintendo 3DS XL on eBay, and after enough time with the form factor, I've learned I don't automatically prefer two screens just because I'm playing DS or 3DS games. If anything, I've usually preferred a larger single screen where I can arrange both displays myself.
But I own a Retroid Pocket 5 with Retroid's Dual Screen Add-on, and that's what makes the Pocket Duo interesting to me. The current add-on attaches a second 5.5-inch AMOLED display to compatible handhelds for $69. It works, and it's a clever way to bolt on dual-screen capability, but it's still an accessory strapped to a device that wasn't designed around two screens in the first place.
The Pocket Duo is Retroid's chance to build a handheld around that experience from the ground up — and that's the comparison I actually want to see.
Retroid Has a Chance to Undercut the Thor
Price is the other big question. Retroid has built its reputation on capable Android handhelds that don't creep into premium territory. The Pocket 5 sells for $209, and newer devices like the Pocket Nova and Pocket 6 sit in the mid-$200 range.
I'm hoping the Pocket Duo lands as the affordable alternative to the AYN Thor. The Thor is an impressive device, but dual-screen handhelds are a niche within a niche, and I don't want to pay premium-handheld prices just for a second display. If Retroid can deliver solid performance, two good screens, and decent controls while staying in its usual price range, the Pocket Duo could be a genuinely big deal.
I Can't Wait to Get One
There's still a lot we don't know: the processor, screen sizes, whether both panels are OLED, hinge quality, battery life while driving two displays, and — most importantly — the price.
Those answers will decide whether the Pocket Duo ends up as just another cool handheld or one of Retroid's best releases yet. Either way, I want to put it up against my Pocket 5 with the Dual Screen Add-on and see how much better a purpose-built version actually feels — and, of course, see how it stacks up against the Thor.
I'm not even that into dual-screen handhelds, and somehow Retroid has me excited about another one.
Well played, Retroid.
